High-tension suspension-insulator.



1 and connected together in a series sothatthe' UNITED STATESFPATENT OFFICE nnson o. SESSIONS, or cnrcaeo, ILLINOIS.

aren-rnnsion sosrmrsxon-msumron.

Application filed July 10, 1916. Serial No. 108.301.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, EDSON O. SESSIONS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in High-Tension Suspension- Insulators, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to an improved construction of high tension insulators in which a plurality of insulatingunits is employed insulatingvalue of the device asa whole is substantially the sum of the insulating values of the units employed in the construction;

My invention pertains particularly to su spension insulators of the kind referred to employed forinsulating antenna for high tension wireless work and line wires carrying extremely high voltage currents. My invention is characterized by improved devices for connecting the insulating units together which devices are mechanically clamped to.

the insulators without the use of cement so that the difliculties heretofore experienced with cement connections such as disintegration and break-down, due to mechanical I strainsand high frequency impacts, are

avoided. The mechanical connecting devices are provided with flexible connections so that the units of the complete insulators may move somewhat, relatively to each other whichis extremely desirable for insulators of' this kind on account of the swaying of the supported wires. In using insulators of this kind large strains are brought to bear the complete insulator, the smaller of the insulating units being at the conductor supporting end of the insulator while the larger of-the insulating units are at theground end of the complete insulator which results in bringing the electrostatic fieldto the ground Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

end of the complete insulator, thereby saving fat1guing and-aging of the insulator units due to corona efi'ect, brush discharge and high frequency impacts; This arrangement of insulator units also provides a better.-

dielectric for a system of suspension units. In practice I find itdesirable to have one or more insulating units of large size at the ground end of the device, then one or more units of smaller size and soon throughout the complete insulator, the smallest insulator,

unit or units bein located at the conductor supporting end 0 the system of suspension units. In other words the insulator units taper from large to small size from the ground end of the suspension sy'stemjto the conductor supporting end thereof.

My invention is shown in its preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings in Which Figure 1 shows in side elevation a complete assembly of suspension units for antenna work,

Fig. 2 shows in diagrammatic view the arrangement of two suspension systems for supporting an antenna, j

Fig. 3 shows in a diagrammatic view an arrangement of a suspension system for supporting a high tension electric conductor,

Fig. 4 shows in plan view on an enlarged scale one of the insulating unitifiwith its clamping device attached,

Fig. 5 shows a central sectionalview.

taken alon the line 5- 5 in Fig. 4 the parts shown in ig. 4, and also a portion of the next insulating unit and the mechanical connections employed between the two units Fig. 6 shows in transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 in Fig. 5 the construction. of the mechanical clamp engaging the upper portion of the upper insulating unit shown in Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 shows in a view similar to-Fig. 5..

the insulating unit adjacent the conductor supporting end of the suspension system employed for antenna work together with the conductor supporting devices carried by said unit,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the parts shown in Fig. 7 taken along the line 8-.8,

Fig. 9 is'a sectional view of a. clamping device for supporting from the last insulator.

" Fig.--10.shows in perspective view a form 'of saddle support fora high tension electric line conductor which may be used in connec-. tion with the supporting clamp shownin Fig. 9. p Similar numerals refer to-similar throughout the several views.

' The suspension system 'of. units shown in Fig. 1 consists of a first set of insulating units 15 of relatively large size, a second set of insulating units '16 of somewhat smaller size, a third set of insulating units 17 of still smaller size and a fourth set of insulating units 18 of still smaller size, the last-one of the insulating units 18 serving to support the devices by which. the antenna is supported. The insulating units referred to are connected together by clamping devices 19 and 20 in series arrangement so that the dielectric strength of the suspension system is substantially equal to parts 4 the added dielectric strength of the several insulator units. The clamping element 20 connected to the end unit 15 engages a supporting ring 21by which the suspension system may be secured'to any desired support as for example by the wire 22 shown in Fig. 2 to the upper end of a tower 23. The clamping element 19 connectingwith the end unit 18 is provided with devices to be described for receiving the end of the antenna 2 1 to support the same in substantially the position shown in Fig. 2. lVhen it is borne in mind that the antenna used in connection with some of the high power wireless stations must be of large length, in some cases over 1000 feet, and that the permissible sag of the antenna is small, and that the antenna is subjected to very high voltages, in some cases several hundred thousand volts, it will be understood that the mechanical construction of the suspension system must be of great strength and of high and permanent insulating value, and it is a purpose of the present invention to effectively meet both of these requirements together with others to be noted which are peculiarly incident to high tension work especially when high he quency currents flow through the conductors supported by the suspension systems. As shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 each insulator unit consists of a flanged body portion 15 afiording a large insulatingsurface, and

from opposite sides'o'f said body portion projecting bosses 15 and 15 extend provided -with enlarged heads having transverse grooves formed through their outer surfaces, these grooves being .at substantially right. angles to each other for receiving the bolts of the clamping devices. Each complete clamping device consists asstated of a member 19 and a member 20, which memsimilar mechanical hers are of the same construction the only difference being in the position of the members when in engagement with each other.

It will, therefore, be necessary to describe but one of these members, as for example the member 20,.which consists of tWo' sec-- tions 20 and 20 which together form a cup for surrounding the boss '15". The' edge of the cup thus formed is provided with an inturned bead entering the circular grooveformed inside of the enlarged head of the boss 15, a strip of somewhat compressible insulatingmaterial 25 being inserted between the bead and the boss to compensate for slight irregularities in the clamp or in the insulator. The insulating material used may be mica or oiled silk or some other similar material for affordingthe bead of the clamp a positive clamping engagement in v the groove of the boss 15". The halves 20 and 20 of the cup are held in place by a screw 26 extending through bosses formed in the inside of the cup in the ends of the transverse groove through the projecting boss 15 of the insulator. The sections 20 and 20 have projecting from the outer surface thereof hooks 27 and 28 which over-lap each other at their end portions as shown at 27 and 28, the overlapping portions being of reduced-thickness so that the total thickness of the hook portions is substantially uniform throughout, these hook portions being in linewith each other-- and extending along a diameter of the cup. The hook portions are so disposed and are of such a shape that they together form an opening or hole 29 for receiving the similar hook portions of the member 19 of theconnectingfclamping mechanism. 'As a result-of the construc tion described the members 19 and 20 may be assembled in the position indicated in Fig.-

5 with their hook portions engaging each. other after which the bead of eachmemberfl 1S brought into engagement with the .corresponding insulator boss with the insulating i'io cushion material referred to in place and the members are tightly clamped in such posi tion by means of the clamping screws extending through the halves of the members positive means for clamping each insulator. by means of the mechanical clamping andconnectlng device wlthout the use of cement and'the construction may readily be given a;

19 and 20. This construction provides a -strength equal to what the material of the insulator 15 will stand. Furthermore the mechanical clamping and connecting-mech anism by the cooperating hooks referred to, forms a flexible connection between .themembers of the clamp so that-adjacent 'in-' sulator units may have considerable swing in any direction relatively to each other, which is desirable for supporting high 'tension conductors so that undue strains may not be brought to bear upon the. insulator units by swaying of the supported conductors.

While it is desirable to have the insulator units of different diameter as referred to it will be understood that the bosses projecting from the insulators are preferably of the same size so that the connecting and clamping mechanism may all be of the same construction and size for any particular suspension system which materially simplifies and cheapens the cost of production.

The end insulating unit 18 as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is provided with a modified form of clamping and supporting device for supportingthe end of the antenna shown in Fig. 2. This clamping mechanism consists of a body portion 19? forming one-half of a bead for efl'ecting the clamping engagement" so that the insulator unit isri'gidlylsecured to the clamping and supporting device, suitable insulating material of aicushionin' nature being interposed between the bea and the boss in the same mannenas above referred to. The body portion..19 of. the clamping device is provided on its outer sur- 'face with a ring32 for engaging the end of the antenna and the outer surface of the body portion 19 of the clamping device is provided with a shoulder 33 against which the shield-34 is held by the upper edge of the protecting cap 35, the latter. being held in placeon the body portion-119 by a screw 36, access to which is afi'orded'by an opening- "37 formed through'the shield 34. In con necting the antennato the "ring 32. the cap '35 ;removed from its position indicated, Y the wire is passed through the-ring 32 and the projecting end is twisted around the bodyof the wire and thenthe extending end of the wire is passed through the hole 38 provided in the side of the cap 35 to af}v ford connection with the conductorextend= ing-to the operating instruments. The cap 35 is then moved to its position indicated in Fig. 7 and 'held inplace by the screw 36.

In connection with the entire construction it is desirable that all of the exposed edges and surfaces shall be rounded. to avoid undue static discharge and this is readily accomplished by my construction of clamping devices since they are so related that it is not necessary at any place to have sharp edges or projecting points.

In using the'suspension system for sup porting .a high tension electric line conductor, as for example-the conductor339 shown in Fig. 3, the suspension system is supported in any desired manner from a cross arm 40 cation.

as for example by an eye bolt 41 and the clamping mechanism at the lower end of the suspension is preferably modified as indicated in Figs. 9 and 10. The clamping mechanism shown in Fig. 9 is adapted to replace that shown in Fig. 7 and consists of two similar sections 42 and 42 forming a cap construction substantially as above de'-. scribed in connection with Figs. 4, 5 and 6 held together by a clamping screw 4.3. The sections 42 and 42" are provided with hook portions 44 and 44 similar to those de scribed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the principal difference being that these hook portions ex-- tend farther from the cup portions so as to receive a pin 45 shown in Fig. 10 for sup- 'orting the saddle 46 which saddle is in efect a curved trough having upwardly ex-,'

tending ears 47 through the upper ends of which the in 45 passes. The saddle 4G is curved slig tly so that'the sagof the line While I have shown my invention in the particular embodiments above described it will be'understood that I- do not liniit myself tothe precise construction shown as I desire to cover by the appended claims any me wire 39'at its point of support will not damage the wire and make it liable to breakage.

chanical equivalents thereof known to the art at the time of .the

filing of this applir .What I claim is:

1. In combination, two insulators, each having 'a .,body portion and a projecting head and an annular groove between said body portion and said head and a transverse groove in the outer surf-ace of said head,

and a mechanical connection between said" 7 members, each of said members having an nwardly PIOJBCtlIlg annular bead ,for'entermg the annular groove in one of the m'sula insulators comprising two cup-shaped metal tors, each member consisting of two portions, a screw extending through said transs l' verse groove and the portions of each memher for clamping said portions together, said portionshaving bosses on their inner surface entering the, ends' of said transverse groove, insulating material clamped in each annular groove by the corresponding annu-.

'lar bead, each member having an inwardly dished end wall and the portionsof each' member having outwardly projecting over: f I

.lapping transverse flanges provided with openings adjacent the center ofthe end wall of said member, wherebysaid overlapping flanges of each member may be disposed in the openings through the flanges of the other member, said flanges and end walls permitting a limited amount of motion of one 'member relatively to the other, said motion being limited by the engagement of the flanges of one member with the end wall of the other member.

2. In combination, two insulators, each having a body portion and a'projecting head and an annular groove between said body portion and said head and, a transverse groove in theouter surface of said head,

and a mechanical connection between said 7 insulators comprising two cup-shaped'metalmembers, each of said members having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member consisting of two portions, a screw extending through said transverse groove' and the port-ions ofeach member for clamping said portions together,

said portions having bosses 'on their inner surface entering th efends of said transverse groove, each member having an inwardly dished end wall andthe portions of each memberh'aving outwardly projecting overlapping transverse flanges provided wlth,

openings adjacjentthe center of the end wall of member, whereby said overlapping flanges of each member may be .disposed in the openings through the-flanges of the" other member, said flanges and end walls,

permitting a limited'amount of motion of one member relatively to the other, said motion being limited by the engagement of the flange Ofone member withthe end wall of the other mem ber.-;

3. In combination, having a body portion and a projecting head and an annular roove between said body portion and. said head and a transverse groove in the outer surface ot'said head,-

and amechan cal connection between said' insulators comprising two cup-shaped metal members, each of sa d membershaving an inwardly projecting annular bead for en- .tering' the annular groove in one of the in- I 40 sulators, each. member consisting of two portions, T a screw extending through said of each member maybe disposed in the openings throughthe flanges of the vother membe'r,' said flanges and end -walls permitting a limited amount of motion of one member relatively, to the other, said motion being limited by the engagement of the flange of one member with the end Wall of the other member. J

4. In combination, two insulators, each having a. body portion and a, projecting head and an annular groove between said body-portion and said head and 'a transverse groove in the outer surface of said head,

" and a-mechariical connection between said insulators comprising two cup-shaped metal two insulators, eachmembers, each "of saidmembers having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member consisting of two portions, as'crew extending throughvsaid transverse groove and the portions of each member for clamping said portions together, said portions having bosses on their inner surface entering the ends of said transverse groove, the portions of each member having outwardly projecting overlapping trans verse flanges provided with openings adjacent the center. of. the end wall of said mem' ber, whereby said overlapping flanges of each member maybe disposed in the openings through the flanges of the other member. s

5. In combination, tWo insulators, each having a body portion and a projecting head and an annular groove between said body portion and said head and a transverse groove in the outer surface of said head, and a mechanical connection between said insulators comprising two cup-shaped metal members, each of said members having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member-consisting of two portions, a screw extending through said transverse groove and the portions of each meniber for clamping said portions together, the portions of each ,member having outwardly projecting overlapping transverse flanges provided with openings adjacent the center of the end wall of said member, whereby said overlapping flanges of each member may be disposed in thevopenings through the flanges of the other member.

6. In combination, two insulators, each having a body portion and a projecting head and an annular groove between said body portion and said head and a transverse groove in the outer surface of said head, and a mechanical connection between said insu- -1ators comprising two cup-shaped metal members,- each of said members having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member consisting of two portions, a screw extending through said transverse-groove and through the portions of each member forclampingsaid portions together, and overlapping hooks extending from the portions of each member for engagingthe corresponding hooks on the other member.

7. In combination, two insulators, each I having a body portion and a projectin head andian annular groove between s ai body portion-and said head, and a mechanical conneotion between said insulators comprising two metal members, each of said members having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member consisting of twoportions, a screw extending diametrically across each member and through the portions of each member for clamping said portions together, insulating material clamped in each annular groove'by the annular bead, each member having an inwardly dished end wall and the portions of each member having outwardly projecting corresponding overlapping transverse flanges provided with openings adjacent the center of the end wall of said member, whereby said overlapping flanges of each member may be dis-' posed in the openings through the flanges of the other member, said flanges and said end walls permitting a limited amount of motion of one member relatively to .the

other, said motion belnglimited by the en gagement of the flanges of one member with the end wall of the-other member.

8. In combination two insulators each having a body portion and a projecting head and'an annular groove between said body portion and said ,head, and a mechanical connection between said insulators comprising two metal members, each of said memi bers having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member consisting of two portions, a screw extending diametri cally across each member; and through the portions of each memberfor clamping said portions together, each member having an inwardly dished end wall and the portions of each member having outwardly projecting overlapping transverse flanges provided with openings adjacent the centerof the end wall otv said member, whereby said overlapping flanges of each member may be disposed in the openings through the flangesof the other member, said-flanges and end walls permitting a limited amount of motion of one member relatively to the other, said.

motion being limited by the engagement of the flange ofone member with the end wall of the other member.

9. In combination, two insulators, each having a body portion and a projecting head and an annular groove between said body portion and said head, and a mechanical connection'between said insulators comprising two metal members, each of said members having an inwardly pro ectingv annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of theinsulators, each member consisting bf two portions, a screw extendlng diametrr cally across each member and through the portions of each member for clamping said portions together, member having outwardly projecting overlapping transverse flanges provided'with opemngs adjacent the center of the end wall of said-member, whereby said overlapping the portions of each bers having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular groove in one of the insulators, each member consisting of -.two portions,- ascrewextending .diametrically across each'member and through the r metrically flanges of each member may be disposed in the openings through the flanges of the other member,'-sai d flanges and end walls permit:-

portions of each member forclamping said portions together, the portions of each member having outwardly projecting overlapping transverse flanges provided with openings adjacent the center of the-end Wall of said member, whereby said overlapping flanges of each member may be disposed in the openings through the flanges of the other member. I

11. In combination, two insulators, each having a body portion and a projecting head and an annular groove between said body portion and-said head, and a mechanr cal connection between said lnsulators coniprising two metal members, each of said members. having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering the annular,

groove in one ofthe insulators, each member consisting of twoportions, a sc'new extending diametrically across each member and through the portions [of each member ,for clamping said portions together, and

overlapping hooks extending from the por tions of eachm'ember for engaging the correspondmg hooks on theother member.

,12. In a mechanical connection for two insulators in series' arrangement,'the combination-of two cup-shaped members each having an inwardly projecting annularbead for entering an 'annular groove in' one of the-insulators and each consisting of two portions, a clamping' s'crew extending diametrically across each member for clamping its ,portions together, and overlapping flanges projecting from the portions of each member and provided with, openings for re ceiving the overlapping flanges-of the other member. I t

.' 13. In -a mechan cal connect1on'-for two insulators inseries arrangement, the com-- b mat cn of two cup-shaped members each having an inwardly projecting annular bead for entering an. annular groove in one of the insulators and each consisting of 'two portions, a clampingscrew extendin diaacrOss each member for c amping its portions togethenand overlappingportions of each .130

flanges projecting from the member and prcvided with openings for re ceiving the overlapping flanges of the other member,-the outer edges of said flanges of each member being adjacent the outer surface of the other member when said flanges are in engaged relation to limit the motion of one member relatively to the other.

14. In a mechanical connection for twoinsulators in series arrangement, the combination of two members each having aninwardly projecting annular bead for entering. an annular groove in one, (if the insulators and each consisting of two portions, a clamping screw extending diametrically across each member for clamping its portions together, and overlapping flanges projecting from the portions of each member l .the overlapping-flanges of the other memher, the outer edges of said flanges of each member being adjacent the outer surface of the other member when saidzflan'ges are in engaged relation to limit the motion of one member relatively to the other. .16. In combination, aninsulator having abodyportion, a projectin annular groove between sai body portion and head, and a metal clamp having an inwardly projecting annular 'bead for enterin sald annular. groove, said clamp comprlsing two portions, a screw extending dia- 3 metrically across said'insulator for ho I 5 ding the portions of said clamp in place on said head, and an insulator, and supporting devices carried by said clamp. L

17. In combination, an insulator having" a body portion,'a projecting head, and an annular groove between said-body portion and head, and a metal clamp having an inwardly projecting annular bead-for'enten mg said annular groove, said clamp comprising two portions, a screw extending 'diametrically across said clamp for holding the portions thereof in. place on saidinsulator, and supporting devices carried by said -clamp, said insulator having a transverse; T

groove across its head for receiving-said 18. In combination, an insulator having a body portion, a projecting head, and ana'n- -nular g-ro'ove between said body portion and. .head, and a metal clamp 'havin ancinwardly projecting annular bead for enter- ,ing said annular groove, said clamp 0on prising two portions,-a screw extending diametrically across said'insulator for holding the portions of said, clamp in place on sai insulator, and supporting devices carried by said clamp, and sheet insulating material clamped between said annular bead and said annular groove. i c

'19. In combination an insulator having a" body portion, a projectin head, and an an nular groove between sai body portion and,

head, and a metal clamp having an mwardly projecting annular bead for entering said annular groove, said clamp comprising two portions, a screw extending-diametri- 80,

cally across said clamp for holding the portions thereof in place on said insulator, supporting devices'carried'by saidclamp, saidinsulator having a, transverse groove across;

'- its head for rece ving said screw, and-sheet- .insulating material clampedbetween said annular bead and said annular'groove;

In witness whereof; I hereunto subscribe mylname this (ithday of July, A. D1916.

nnson o. sEss1oNs. 

